Hearts and Love, great reads in February

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THE DELANEYS OF SANDPIPER BEACH: A family business with room to grow.

So many frogs. So few princes.

Eloisa loves a Cinderella twist in her stories, and three short stories with this theme are digitally publishing in one volume!

Marie Bostwick weaves together the unforgettable story of four very different women whose paths cross, changing their lives forever…

When someone attempts to assassinate a Saudi Prince on U.S. soil, FBI Agent Kord Davidson and CIA Operative Monica Alden head up a task force to keep the Prince safe and find those responsible to avoid an international incident that could have devastating consequences.

"Giving Steampunk a chance....Good for Her, Not for Me"

I made a resolution last year that's carrying into this
year to read more different book. To not turn down a
genre just because I think I'm not going to like it, but
instead to give it a try and actually determine if that
is for me or not for me. This extends to reading more
books that fall under the umbrella of "diversity" as
well - seeking out books about folks whose lives are
different than my own.

And thus, when offered the chance to make that resolution
tangible by reviewing a steampunk book, I had to take it.
I didn't really understand what steampunk was, so I did
some research, finding out that it's a Victorian-
Paranormal-ish hybrid that would be dystopian if it was
set in the future. So it's like an Alternate Universe
genre and I thought "Okay, let's give this a run."

Y'all. It's not for me.

I could not get into this book. I felt constantly
confused, I couldn't orient myself to the world and I
simply didn't enjoy it. I found myself flipping back and
re-reading passages because I either misunderstood what
was going on or forgot.

However, when I look at other reviews by readers who are
100% in the tank for steampunk, THE DEVIOUS DR. JEKYLL is
getting veritable tongue baths. People are loving this
book! So I'm left with the conclusion that I have no idea
if the book is good or bad, but "experts" are saying it's
a good example of the subgenre. Therefore, I am left to
assume I'm not going to be exploring steampunk any
further.

If you've read any of my other reviews, you know I
believe strongly in "good for her, not for me", which is
Amy Poehler's life motto and I have blatantly stolen from
her. THE DEVIOUS DR. JEYKLL is just that.

If you love steampunk and you think this just maybe
wasn't a good entry point for me—it is the second in a
series after all—please comment and direct me to your
favorites! If I get clear direction from an advocate, I'd
be happy to give steampunk another go. And if you enjoyed
this book, please comment as well! I'd love to hear if it
worked for you.

SUMMARY

Dr. Eliza Jekyll, heroine of the electrifying The Diabolical
Miss Hyde—an edgy steampunk retelling of the classic Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—investigates a bizarre murder case in an
alternate Victorian London while battling her treacherous
secret half: Lizzie Hyde.

Solving the infamous Chopper case has helped crime scene
physician Dr. Eliza Jekyll establish her fledgling career in
the chauvinistic world of Victorian law enforcement. But the
scrutiny that comes with her newfound fame is unwelcome for
a woman with a diabolical secret. And there is the mercurial
Royal Society agent and wolf man Remy Lafayette. Does he
want to marry her, eat her, or burn her at the stake? Though
Eliza is uncertain about Remy, her dark and jealous shadow
self, Lizzie, wants to steal the magnetic and persistent
agent, and usurp Eliza’s life.

It’s impossible to push Remy away when he tempts her with
the one thing she can’t resist: a bizarre crime. The search
for a bloodthirsty ritual torturer dubbed the Pentacle
Killer draws them into a terrifying world of spies, art
thieves, and evil alchemy, where the price of immortality is
madness—or damnation—and only Lizzie’s dark ingenuity can
help Eliza survive.

As Eliza and Remy race to thwart a foul conspiracy involving
the sorcerous French, they must also overcome a sinister
enemy who is all too close: the vengeful Lizzie, determined
to dispose of Eliza for good.